The UFC first offered a PPV teaser broadcast for UFC 103 in 2009, when the UFC went head-to-head with a boxing PPV broadcast featuring Floyd Mayweather vs. Juan Manuel Marquez. The specials proved effective enough at generating last-minute PPV buys that officials from the UFC and the organization’s longtime cable partner decided to make them a regular offering.

The specials consistently draw between 1.1 million and 1.7 million viewers per event on Spike TV.

In recent months, Spike TV hasn’t been the only home to preliminary-card broadcasts. UFC.com streamed fights from UFC 124, ION Television carried UFC 125 prelims, and this past week with UFC Fight Night 23, Facebook streamed a live sports event for the first time with the UFC’s four-fight preliminary-card lineup.

Despite the 2011 broadcasts, a source told MMAjunkie.com the UFC and Spike TV haven’t finalized a contract renewal, which is needed for 2012 and beyond.

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